Sole in the form of a midsole, inner sole or insertable sole for a shoe and a shoe with said sole

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a sole, used as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe, e.g, a football boot with a flexible outsole. The sole ensures that when shooting on the volley in football or with similar loadings, the entire force can be transmitted to the ball or similar sports equipment by means of a special stiffening of the sole by tension elements attached to raised walls of the edge area of the sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sole embodied as a throughsole, innersole or insole for a shoe with a flexible outsole and relates to a shoewith such a sole.

2. Description of Related Art

In providing shoes with a flexible outsole, it is known for the outsoleto bend in the shape of an arch of a bridge or an archway under certainloading conditions. This happens, for example, when playing footballwhen shooting on the volley. In this instance, the ball is struck insuch a way that, with shoes with a soft flexible outsole, the front partof the foot together with the front part of the shoe is bent downwardsdue to the yielding nature of the outsole. Thus, in the shootingprocess, the sole is bent downwards at the front end so that the forcecannot be transmitted completely to the ball when shooting.

A shoe which is stiffened against the bending discussed above is shownin the German patent 196 01 219 C1. The stiffening is achieved byproviding a front tension band connecting the front end of the sole tothe upper and two rear lateral tension bands connecting the heel area ofthe sole to the upper. The front tension band and the two rear tensionbands are connected to one another in the instep area. In addition, theconnecting node of the three bands can be fixed by a further tensionband running transversely from one side of the shoe to the other. Thisprevents the front part of the shoe from bending downwards, but does notstop the sole rolling. The force occurring when under loading in thebending direction is borne by the instep.

This is an undesirable situation and results painful loading of theinstep area as several tendons run in this area. In addition, thisdesign does not prevent a soft flexible shoe sole from bending upwardsin the area of the arch of the foot and subjecting the foot to extremelypainful loading when impinging on hard and/or frozen objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to prevent the undesired bending orflexing of the shoe and the loading on the foot in the area of theinstep and the arch of the foot.

This object is achieved through the use of resiliently elastic materialalong with raised side areas and tension element or elements attached tothem in their upper edge area to ensure that all the above discussedtypes of loading are borne by the sole of the invention as athroughsole, inner sole or insole so that painful loading force is nolonger transmitted to the foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sole according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the sole in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through a portion of a shoe with asole of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a sole with a damping element in theheel area and a special guide for the tension elements.

FIG. 5 illustrates the view according to FIG. 4 with an outsoleillustrated in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A sole embodied as a throughsole, inner sole or insole is denoted by 1.It is made of a resiliently elastic, flexible material, for example athermoplastic or duroplastic, such as polyamide, polyurethane,polyethylene or the like.

In particular, the sole 1 is made of a long-fiber material with a hightensile strength, such as glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramide fibers,or plastic fibers made of or based upon polyamide, aramide or the like,or of textile fibers which are mixed and/or coated for example with athermoplastic or duroplastic bonding material and produced by a thermalprocess, in particular a thermal and pressing process, and are possiblymolded, for example at the same time as the sole 1.

Manufacture of the sole 1 can be by the method shown in DE 197 16 666 A1the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thus, forexample, the pattern to be pressed is produced on an automatic stitchingmachine, where an endless strand of carbon fibers and/or glass fibersand/or aramide fibers are mixed with thermoplastically deformableplastic powder and wound on a reel, is laid on a carrier material andsecured roughly with zigzag stitches so that the strand adheres to thecarrier in a desired, calculated position. The carrier material can be atextile material or a plastic material, for example in the form of awoven or knitted fabric or a plastic film or a fiber mat. The quantityof threads or fibers and/or the pattern, i.e., the geometricconfiguration, and the spacings of one or more strands, depends on thepreviously defined and calculated properties of the finished sole. Aftercompletion of the “stitching, the two-dimensional, i.e., flat, mats thusobtained are transformed into a three-dimensional structure by means ofheat, e.g. 230° C. to 260° C., and by means of a defined molding tool.In the process, the plastic powder (microgranulate) contained in thestrands melts and solidifies in the desired form as it cools. When theplastic melts, it combines with the fibers of the strand and achievesthe stiffening effect when it cools, similar to a synthetic resin incomposite materials. During this process, the carrier material alsomelts and residues which may be protruding are removed when the sole isprocessed further.

However, the sole 1 can also be produced by other methods, for example,by a direct injection or an injection molding process, a stampingprocess or the like. The material for the sole 1 can preferably betransparent or translucent. At least one of its surfaces can be smooth,polished or roughened.

The sole 1 is made of resilient elastic in the heel area 2 from the heelcup 3 to the area 4 of the arch of the foot, in particular a web area,and to the ball area 5 of the ball of the foot, that is, roughly to thestart of the front sole area 6 of the front of the sole 7, but the soleis made rigid so that it can barely be bent at all under normal loading.This rigidity is determined by the material thickness and the choice ofthe material for the fibers and the bonding material. On the other hand,the ball area 5 and the front of the sole 7 are adjusted so that theycan be bent in a resilient elastic manner by an appropriate choice ofthe thickness of the material and possibly by providing openings 8.

Both the heel area 2 or the heel cup 3 and the front part of the sole 7are provided with edges in the form of walls raised approximately 0.5 cmto 2 cm vertically or obliquely outwards on both sides 9, 10. Here, thesole 1 is preferably matched to the contour of a foot. The bottom 7′ ofthe front part of the sole 7 can be curved outwards slightly, i.e.,curved downwards slightly. The angle of the walls can be roughly 45° toroughly 80°, measured as external angle α in relation to the plane 7.1of the front part of the sole 7. These raised walls 3.9 and 7.9 of theheel or heel cup 3 and the front part of the sole 7 on one side 9 andthe corresponding walls 3.10 and 7.10 on the other side 10 thereof arein each case connected together by a tension element 11 or 12 of hightensile strength and minimal elastic elongation in the upper edge area3.9.1 and 3.10.1 of the heel cup 3 and 7.9.1 and 7.10.1 of the frontpart of the sole 7. As a result, the front part of the sole 7 can nolonger be bent downwards by a loading such as occurs for example whenshooting on the volley, while playing football or when the wearer of theshoe treads on a raised object in the area of the arch of the foot. Whenthis happens, no loading of any kind occurs on the instep of the wearersince the entire loading is borne by the tension elements 11, 12 and thesole 1 itself. The heel area 2 can be grasped peripherally by thetension elements 11 or 12.

The tension elements 11, 12 can be made of fibers, threads or at leastone fiber strand. The materials can be plastic fibers, textile fibers,carbon fibers, glass fibers or aramide fibers. These can be mixed with abonding material, for example a thermoplastic or duroplastic whichconnects the fibers, threads and/or fiber strands together in a hotmolding process. This process can also be the method for connecting thetension element or elements 11, 12 to the edge of the raised walls. Inaddition, with an endless tension band, this can be connected, forexample, to the peripheral edge of the sole 1, possibly with theexception of those areas in which the tension elements 11, 12 runfreely. However, individual tension bands or the endless tension bandcan also only be partly attached to the edge and to another part on thebottom 7′ of the front part of the sole 7 and/or the bottom of the heelor heel cup 3.

Preferably, the front part of the sole 7 is provided with a wallpointing upwards continuously from one side 9 around the point 13 to theother side 10, i.e., roughly shell-shaped. This produces additionalstiffening which further assists the desired effect. Here, the raisededge or the raised wall in the ball area 5 can be higher than towardsthe front in the direction of the point 13. The bottom 7′ of the frontpart of the sole 7 can be provided with at least one reinforcing bead7.2. The bead, or beads, preferably run in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the sole 1 and are angled downwards.

Advantageously, the web area 4 is relatively narrow due to lateralcurved recesses 14 and 15. The width of the web area 4 is advantageouslyroughly ⅕to ¾of the maximum width of the heel area 2 or heel cup 3.Through the recesses 14, 15, the tension elements 11, 12 in the area 4of the arch of the foot run freely from one wall 3.9 or 3.10 to theother wall 7.9 or 7. 10, respectively. As a result, the foot is notcovered by the hard sole 1 in the area of the arch of the foot and yetthe front part of the sole 7 is prevented from bending downwards by thetension elements 11, 12. The heel cup 3 can exhibit an opening 3.1 inthe area of impingement of the heel.

FIG. 3 shows a section through a heel portion of a shoe 1. An uppermaterial 17 is fastened, for example “strobeled”, lasted and/or glued,on the inside 16.1 of a soft elastic flexible outsole 16. The sole 1 islaid on this upper material 17 and connected firmly, for example glued,to the latter, and the sole 1 is provided with a covering 18, connectedfirmly to the latter. The covering 18 can also be an insole. Thecovering 18 is preferably made of an elastically yielding material, forexample, a foam material made of elastic or elastically adjustedplastic. A foamable thermoplastic or duroplastic can be used as theplastic. A plastic made of or based on polyamide, polyethylene,polyurethane or the like is suitable. Preferably, the covering 18 ismatched to the shape of the foot. A sole 1, provided with a covering 18,can, as another embodiment, be manufactured as an insole, inserted intoa shoe and secured in a shoe.

The sole 1 connected to a covering layer, for example the covering 18,or an insole or comfort sole, and can be laid loosely in the 'strobeled”shoe or be connected firmly to the latter. The sole 1 largely performsthe functions of the usual sole base and the insole, such as for exampleflexibility, stability, torsional rigidity and the like, but with lessweight than in the case of previously known embodiments.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the tension elements 11,12 or the endless tension element can be provided on the inside or onthe outside of the walls 3.9, 3.10 and 7.9, 7.10, respectively. While,in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, grooves 3.10.1 and7.10.1, in which the tension elements 11, 12 are laid and secured, i.e.,glued, are provided in the walls 3.9, 3.10 and 7.9, 7.10 respectively(see FIG. 1). The grooves 3.10.1 and 7.10.1 can also be provided on theinside when the tension elements 11, 12 run along on the inside. Thewidth of the groove roughly corresponds to the width of the tensionelements 11, 12 and the depth of the grooves 3.10.1 and 7.10.1 isapproximately 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. Preferably, at least one lower section20 can be provided between the walls 3.9, 3.10 and/or 7.9. 7.10, andthen the tension elements 11, 12 are freely stretched between them. Thetension elements 11, 12 need not be guided around the point of the frontpart of the sole 7, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is sufficient,and may even be advantageous, if the tension elements 11, 12 end infront of or in the area 21 of the toe basal joints and are passedthrough transversely under the sole 1, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, thereis no need to provide a raised wall in the area of the point of thefront end of the sole 7, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, thetension elements 11 and 12 coming from the front part of the sole 7 canbe passed transversely under the sole 1 after the ball area 6 or in thearea 4 of the arch of the foot.

Advantageously, a damping element 23 is provided, preferably on theunderside 1.1 of the sole 1 or in a recess 22 of the sole 1 or in theopening 3.1 of the heel cup 3, and connected firmly, i.e., glued, to thematerial of the sole 1 or molded with the sole 1 when it is produced.Preferably, the damping element 23 is a honeycomb structure.Advantageously, the surface of the sole 1, made of transparent ortranslucent material, is smooth or glossy above the damping element 23so that the structure of the damping element 23 is visible.

With soles 1 provided for shoes which are not exposed to particularlyhigh loadings of the kind discussed previously, it may be sufficient ifthe tension elements 11, 12 are only present in the area of the front ofthe foot 6 and only extend from the area 21 of the toe basal jointstowards the rear. These can then run transversely over the underside 1.1of the sole 1 in the area 21 of the toe basal joints and/or in the area4 of the arch of the foot, in particular in its starting area or the endarea of the ball area 6, and be secured to the sole 1.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing part 25can be attached to the sole 1, in particular to the underside 1.1 andpreferably in a shallow recess 24. This reinforcing part is made ofplastic or fiber-reinforced material, in particular with glass fibers,carbon fibers, plastic fibers, textile fibers, possibly along with abonding material of a thermoplastic or duroplastic. Preferably, thereinforcing part 25 is a curved molding with no interruptions oropenings.

Preferably, the sole 1 according to the invention can be used in shoesin which the upper material 17 is attached and secured on the inside16.1 of the outsole 16, and the sole 1 of the invention is attachedfirmly as a throughsole to the upper material 17 while remaining free ofthe inside 16.1 of the outsole. An insole or covering 18 is thenprovided on the sole 1 and connected firmly to the sole 1.

The sole 1 according to the invention is particularly suitable forfootball boots, and shoes or boots for American football, cricket,baseball, and also for golf shoes or the like.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sole for a shoe constructed from a materialhaving resiliently elastic properties, the sole being flexible in adirection extending lengthwise of the sole from a heel area through anarch area to a ball area while being rigid in the ball area and in afront sole area in a direction transverse to the longitudinal directionof the sole, wherein the front sole area is shell-shaped, and sides ofthe sole at least in the ball area and the heel area are raised to formwalls, wherein the walls have a height of 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm on each sideof the sole, wherein at least one substantially unstretchable, tensionelement is connected to an upper portion of each of the walls and runsfreely between the walls.
 2. A sole as set forth in claim 1, wherein theat least one tension element extends peripherally around the heel areaof the sole.
 3. A sole as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sole has aside recess on each side of the sole extending from the heel area to thefront sole area to form a narrowing in a horizontal plane of the sole.4. A sole as set forth in claim 1, wherein the narrowing has a widtharea which is approximately ⅕to ¾of the maximum width of the heel area.5. A sole as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one tensionelement comprises fiber strands selected from the group consisting ofglass fibers, carbon fibers, plastic fibers and textile fibers, and saidfibers coated or molded with a bonding material selected from the groupconsisting of a thermoplastic or duroplastic.
 6. A sole as set forth inclaim 1, wherein in the front sole area the at least one tension elementextends from a position in the ball area in a basal joint area of awearer's toes toward the heel area.
 7. A sole as set forth in claim 1,wherein the at least one tension element is integrally bonded to thewalls.
 8. A sole for a shoe constructed from a material havingresiliently elastic properties, the sole being flexible in a directionextending lengthwise of the sole from a heel area through an arch areato a ball area while being rigid in the ball area and in a front solearea in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of thesole, wherein the front sole area in front of the ball area, and sidesof the sole at least in the ball area, the arch area and the heel areaare raised to form walls, wherein the walls have a height of 0.5 cm to2.0 cm on each side of the sole, wherein at least one substantiallyunstretchable, tension element is connected to an upper portion of eachof the walls and runs freely between the walls.
 9. A sole as set forthin claim 8, wherein the at least one tension element extendsperipherally around the heel area of the sole.
 10. A sole as set forthin claim 8, wherein between the walls of at least the front sole areaand the heel area is at least one lower section such that the at leastone tension element extends across the at least one lower section.
 11. Asole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the walls of the front sole areaare higher in the ball area than in the remaining front sole area.
 12. Asole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the walls of the front sole areaand the heel area are angled upwards and outwards to match the shape ofa foot.
 13. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein a external angle αof the walls relative to a horizontal plane of the sole is approximately45° to 80°.
 14. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the sole has aside recess on each side of the sole extending from the heel area to thefront sole area to form a narrowing in a horizontal plane of the sole.15. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the narrowing has a widtharea which is approximately ⅕to ¾of the maximum width of the heel area.16. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the front sole area containsa plurality of openings.
 17. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein theheel area has an opening In the area of impact of the heel.
 18. A soleas set forth in claim 17, wherein a resilient and elastic cushion issecured within the opening.
 19. A sole as set forth in claim 8, whereinthe heel area is provided on an underside with a damping element.
 20. Asole as set forth in claim 19, wherein the damping element is of ahoneycomb structure.
 21. A sole as set forth in claim 8, wherein the atleast one tension element comprises fiber strands selected from thegroup consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, plastic fibers andtextile fibers, and said fibers coated or molded with a bonding materialselected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic or duroplastic.22. A sole as set forth in claim 21, wherein the at least one tensionelement comprises aramide fibers.
 23. A sole as set forth in claim 8,wherein the at least one tension element extends from the front solearea to the beginning of the arch area.
 24. A sole as set forth in claim8, wherein the at least one tension element is an endless peripheralstrand which extends transversely across one of the front sole area andthe arch area, and around the heel area.
 25. A sole as set forth inclaim 8, wherein the at least one tension element extends from the frontsole area to the middle of the arch area.
 26. A sole as set forth inclaim 8, wherein the at least one tension element is integrally bondedto the walls.
 27. A sole for a shoe constructed from a material havingresiliently elastic properties, the sole being flexible in a directionextending lengthwise of the sole from a heel area through an arch areato a ball area while being rigid in the ball area and in a front solearea in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of thesole, wherein the front sole area is shell-shaped, and sides of the soleat least in the ball area and the heel area are raised to form walls,wherein at least one substantially unstretchable, tension element isconnected to an upper portion of each of the walls, and wherein the atleast one tension element is an endless peripheral strand which extendsacross each upper portion of the walls.
 28. A sole for a shoeconstructed from a material having resiliently elastic properties, thesole being flexible in a direction extending lengthwise of the sole froma heel area through an arch area to a ball area while being rigid in theball area and in a front sole area in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the sole, wherein the front sole area in frontof the ball area, and sides of the sole at least in the ball area, thearch area and the heel area are raised to form walls, wherein at leastone substantially unstretchable, tension element is connected to anupper portion of each of the walls, and wherein the at least one tensionelement is an endless peripheral strand which extends across each upperportion of the walls.